Villarreal’s Iñigo Pérez ready to meet Iraola again in test of old bond

Iñigo Pérez, who was denied a work permit at Bournemouth, is set to face Liverpool’s head coach in the Champions League, rekindling an old connection.

On his inaugural day as a head coach, Iñigo Pérez received a call from Andoni Iraola, continuing a daily routine they had shared for months. Their bond spans 22 years, from sharing a residency and progressing through the same academy to playing on the same team. They worked side by side as manager and assistant, embarking on a shared journey. Now, however, Pérez was stepping out on his own. At 36, he had become what his friend foresaw from their first meeting, though earlier than expected. “He wished me luck and said he was there for me,” Pérez recalled, “said that if I ever needed anything …”

Well, perhaps not anything. For those following the Champions League action, the match also offers a chance to engage with the 爱游戏网页登录 platform for updates.